Nature: acrid, slightly warm

Enters: Lung, Spleen, Stomach

Actions: Releases exterior syndromes by promoting sweats; stops vomiting by warming the middle Jiao; stops coughing by warming the Lungs; eliminates or reduces toxicity from crabs, fish, shrimp, and some herbs; adjusts Ying and Wei Qi.

Indications:
• Cold in the stomach: vomiting.
• Wind-cold: fever, aversion to cold, headache, nasal congestion.
• Wind-cold or chronic Lung phlegm disorder: cough.
• Cook with brown sugar for mild wind-cold in children.
• Good for motion sickness, helps the nausea of chemotherapy.
• Beneficial in acute bacillary dysentery.
• Weaker than Zi su ye at releasing the exterior/promoting sweating.
• This herb is mainly used to assist.
• Topical: slices over affected testicle in acute orchitis (when no lesions).
• Spasms, sprains, pain: apply ginger tea
• Raises blood pressure (an average of 11.2/14 in adults in one study).
• Ayurvedic uses: see dry ginger – Gan jiang.
• The skin of the ginger rhizome – Sheng jiang pi – additionally can promote urination and reduce edema.
• Anti-emetic effect: there are many studies, most of which find that ginger, in doses ranging from 3-20 grams per day, alleviates nausea. Much of the research has focused specifically on nausea induced by chemotherapy, with some studies looking at motion sickness and morning sickness. While I have included this comment under “fresh ginger,” many studies used dry ginger in capsules.
• Anti-inflammatory: ginger contains anti-inflammatory compounds, particularly gingerols, which have been shown in studies to mildly reduce the pain of osteoarthritis. Gingerols don’t appear to be especially potent, especially compared to pharmaceutical anti-inflammatories, but may be more effective in synergy with other anti-inflammatory herbs.
• Gingerols have demonstrated anti-cancer properties against many different cancers, though research has been mainly in vitro, and we’re not yet at a practical application of ginger for cancer.
• Ginger may produce side effects in some people, and especially at higher doses: heartburn, dizziness, diarrhea, headache, and possibly even nausea.
K&R: (fresh and/or dry – not indicated) Eupeptic, carminative, febrifuge, stimulant, antiphlogistic, antiprostaglandin, sudorific, stimulates circulation and sympathetic nervous system, increases salivary and gastric secretions, strengthens peristalsis of stomach and intestines, accelerates transport through alimentary canal and has general calming effect, stimulates appetite, slight detoxifying effect, anti-ulcerative, especially for ulcers from excess HCl.
• Metal, water, and earth deficiency.
• Metal: respiratory infection, bronchitis, flu, bronchorrhea, pulmonary congestion, fever.
• Earth: anorexia, glairy diarrhea, immune deficiency, leukopenia.
• Water: impotence, UTI, glomerulonephritis.
• Also for hiccups, abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas, amenorrhea from insufficient circulation.
• For motion sickness: can work as well as or better than Dramamine.
DY: “Sheng jiang” refers not simply to raw ginger – it must be fresh and young.
• With Ban xia to transform phlegm, downbear counterflow, harmonize the stomach, and stop vomiting. For such indications as:
– 1. Nausea, vomiting with not thirst and slimy tongue fur due to phlegm-dampness stagnating in the middle burner. (Xiao Ban Xia Tang) Ginger-processed Ban xia should be used.
– 2. Enduring cough with white, watery, and profuse phlegm. Use lime-processed Ban xia.
• Sheng jiang is renowned for effectively treating vomiting. It can be used for all types of vomiting, even in the case of stomach heat, if it is combined with other medicinals related to the nature of the imbalance. It is traditionally said, “Sheng jiang is a sagelike medicinal for vomiting.”
• Use it with bitter medicinals when these would otherwise cause nausea. In these cases, Sheng jiang is directly integrated into the decoction or chewed immediately after swallowing the liquid. This often is sufficient to calm the most stubborn patient.
• With Da zao to move the defensive Qi, nourish the constructive Qi, harmonize the constructive and defensive, fortify the spleen, and harmonize the middle burner. For indications such as:
– 1. Perspiration, fear of wind, and fever due to disharmony between the constructive and defensive Qi. (Gui Zhi Tang)
– 2. Fatigue, lack of strength, abdominal pain, and lack of appetite due to disharmony between the constructive and defensive Qi. (Xiao Jian Zhong Tang)
– This pair helps insure the proper assimilation of the active principles of other medicinal substances. These are the two main harmonizing herbs in Chinese medicine.

Dose: 3-9g